Apparatus for obtaining practice in golf or other games or physical exercises



Apnl 29 1924.. 1,492,039

(3. LEVEN APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING PRACTICE IN GOLF OR OTHER GAMES OR PHYSICAL EXERCISES Filed July 25. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6. Lererz J W A nl 29, 1924, I ,4 ,039

C. LEVEN APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING PRACTICE IN GOLF OR OTHER GAMES OR PHYSICAL EXERCISES File ly 25. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fare/22b) CZ; ave/2 Patented Apr. 29, 1924.

UNITEDSTATES means PATENT OFFHQEQ CHARLES LEVEN, or Lennon, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING PRACTICE INGOLF OR OTHER GAMES OR PHYSEGAL EXERCISESQ Application filed July 25,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES Lnvnn, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at 109-111 New Ox- 6 ford Street, London, W. C. 1, England,

have invented certain new and useful Improved Apparatus for Obtaining Practice in Golf or Other Games or Physical Exercises, of which the following isia specification.

The object of the present invention is to devise a form of apparatus which isvprimarily intended to enable the user to obtain practice in golf but which may be applied with equal advantage and like effect in connection with practice in other games, such as cricket, baseball, hockey, polo and the like, or for physical games and; exercises generally. o a h The invention aims at providing a form of apparatus which in addition to enabling the user to obtain the necessary practice will also afford a satisfactory indication of the state of proficiency at which he has arrived and the invention consists in apparatus comprising a stick, bat or other like article or device having a weight or other member movable thereon or in connection therewith under the action of centrifugal force and preferably against a suitable spring or like resistance, means being provided to maintain the weight or the like in any position which it may be forced to take up under the action of the centrifugal force so that it will serve as an index of the power of the swing or other movement imparted to the device.

The accompanying drawings illustrate two modes of carying out the invention in its application, for example, to a practice golf club Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a golf club fitted in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan of the head of the club shown in Figure 1;

Figures 3 to 7 are views illustrating in detail the mechanism contained within the club head as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In carrying my invention into effect in one convenient manner as, for example, in its application to a golf club, I may form my golf club somewhat in the usual manner with handle or shaft a and head 6 but within the head b of the club I provide a cavity 1922. Serial No. 577,477.

orchamber o in which is mounted a slide or guide at inwhich is movable a weight 6 against the action of a spring 7, the axis of movement of the weight being preferably inthe vertical plane containing the axis of the shaft or :handle.

The spring 7 controlling the movement of the weight may either be a tension or compression spring and in order to reduce friction and make the device as accurate as possible the weight may be adapted to slide in its guide by means of suitable ball or roller bearings g, it being obvious that the arrangement enables me to use a weight of comparatively small mass and a relatively light spring proportioned to suit the weight and the scale of distances provided to. give an index of thepower of the swing or vother movement imparted to the device.

For the purpose of temporarily securing the weight into any position in which it may be moved under the action of centrifugal force I may provide a ratchet h, rack or the like thereon or in connection therewith and adapted to co-operate with a spring-pressed pawl i which may be actuated by a suitable button 70 for the purposes of release.

The cavity or chamber within which the weight with its atendant parts is located may be closed by a metal or other plate Z preferably arranged so as to be substantially flush with the outer or upper surface of the club head and a disc, pointer m or other index upon or movable with or by the weight may co-operate with a suitable linear, circular or other scale 12 to indicate the extent of movement of the weight, the index being either external to the device or being adapted to be visible direct or through a celluloid or other transparent window or through a slot 0 in the plate Z.

The arrangement is such that when the club is used in the manner of an ordinary golf club the weight will move outwards against the action of centrifugal force and the indicator m, in conjunction with the scale n, will show the extent of such. movement which is an index of the power, rapidity or skill of swing of the club.

If desired, a leather loop or other like device may be provided at that part of the stick or tube member which is gripped so that the hand of the user may be passed through such loop, thus facilitating the gripping operation and serving to maintain it thehold upon the stick or handle.

' It is to be understood that; the foregoing @details and the particular application dei scribed are given by way of explanation and not oflimitation, as it will be clear that the invention may heapplied to various devices A used in the playing of games or in the carry- I particular purpose for which the invention 7 is to be employed or any practical requireing out of physical exercises and the form of member influenced by the centrifugal force, the manner of disposing the same and themeans adopted forienabling it temporarily to maintain any position in which it may be set may allbe modified to suit the I ments that may haveto be fulfilled.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let'-' 1 terse Patent is 1. A swingable game-piece comprising a i body part and meansoperatedby centrifugal force to indicate the power or skill of -.the swing and located Wholly within said body part.

2. A swingab-le game-piece comprising a body part with a recess therein and a weight within's'aid recess acted upon'by centrifugal force to indicate the power'or skill of the swing. r

3. A sWingablegame-piece comprising a body part with a recess therein, a weight withinsaid recess acted-upon by centrifugal forceltoindicate the poweror skill of the swing and means for temporarily retaining the weight in any position to which it may be moved under the action of centrifugal 7 force. 7 a a L 1 a. A swingable game-piece having a body claim 4,111 which the recess is closed by meansof agcover bearing ascale, while a visible indicator Zmovable with the Weight cooperates with said scale.

6. A swingable game-piece accordingto claim 3, having hand-operated means carrie d by said body part to release themeans temporarily holding the weight against the action of a spring.

' In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification,

CHARLES LEVEN'.

Witness r A. TURNBULL. 

